Dealing with clogged ears on a plane?

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Maria asked:

I will be making a long plane trip tomorrow.
My ears have been clogged, stuffy, and funky for a few days now. I got a prescription nasal spray and Clariten tablets for the issue.
Seeing as my trip is so close, my ears don’t have enough time to fully “heal”, if you will. What can I do on an airplane to help relieve the pressure (it’ll be two times worse, i’m sure, since they’re already feeling a lot of pressure as it is)? Anything besides yawning and chewing gum?

Also, quick thing. A lot of people suggest yawning but although it relieves some form of the pressure, my ears ALWAYS still crackle. Is there any way to fix that, or is that just what the experience is?

Thanks, i’m concerned for my ears on this flight so ANY remedies and tips you have for me would be AMAZING. Thanks in advance!!!

The trick here is to balance the athmospheric pressure between the outer ear and the inner ear. there is a connection from the inner ear and the atmospheric pressure via the eustachian tube. Thats why if u have a stuffy nose u may also have problems with ur ears if the tube is block. I travel by air frequently too and I usually will pinch my nose and blow my nose hard. another way is to keep ur mouth open during when d plane is taking off and during initial ascend. the nasal spray and clarityne only helps with the block nasal passage.hope this helps

This is going to sound weird, I’ve suffered as well for many years, I tried the boiled sweets, the yawning – it doesn’t usually work for me.

But, on descent, I start humming my favourite tune over and over again, the low drone of humming seems to stop my ears from reacting to the pressure – also, I find if I just stay asleep that works too!!